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Gold-and-brown Rove Beetle

Ontholestes cingulatus

Photo by Dan Doucette
Published on Project Noah
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45.7781, -78.8475

Field Notes

Description:

about 1"

Habitat:

temperate forest

Notes:

The first thing I spotted this day out at Short Hills provincial park was a huge pile of dung. It was covered with pearl crescent butterflies and upon closer investigation, also these beetles and another nymph of something, as seen in the fourth and fifth photos.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)

You are welcome! I love seeing and learning about new creatures. Thanks for sharing. :-)
Wow! Neat creature. Terrific find Dan!
Thanks J, Tom and chester. I agree too, was just about to update.
I agree with Tom, Ontholestes cingulatus. Fantastic find!
One of the differences between the 2 suggested species is the pronotum (area behind the head) has a pattern on the O. cingulatus and the Platydracus has a solid colored pronotum. Other features are larger eyes and mandibles that cross in the Ontholestes.
Looks a lot like like Platydracus maculosus, but I think it's the Gold-and-brown Rove Beetle - Ontholestes cingulatus that I've found on dog poop before. http://bugguide.net/node/view/430643/bgimage
Thanks Jopy, thats the one I was thinking it was actually as well, but wanted more confirmation. Hopefully others think it is that too, then I'll update.
Hey, Dan, your rove beetle is similar to this one: http://bugguide.net/node/view/570814/bgimage
oh oh! I will review my concepts...

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